Omaha Reaches Contract Deal with Firefighters

Nov132:01 pm

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The city of Omaha and the Omaha firefighters union have reached a deal. The office of Mayor Jean Stothert said Wednesday morning in a news release that an agreement had been reached that put the Omaha Fire Department on target to reach its 2014 budget of nearly $91 million and avoid firefighter layoffs. Stothert's office says more details of the deal would be released later Wednesday. The deal comes more than a week after the city sent layoff notices to 19 firefighters in an effort to cut costs. Stothert's office says the fire department is $6.2 million over its 2013 budget. Stothert had said the layoffs would be rescinded if the fire department made cuts to bring its 2014 budget in line.